Adjustable walking aid



H. E. BLUME ADJUSTABLE WALKING AID Jane 28, 1949.

Filed Feb. 14, 1946 HETET E. Bums Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE WALKING AID Herbert E. Blume, Tripoli, IowaApplication February 14, 1946, Serial No. 647,616

2 Claims. (01. 135--50) physically handicapped find it impossible orextremely difiicult to ascend or descend stairs,

chiefly due to the fact that conventional crutches will not reach onestep while the person using the same is standing on another. Suchpersons are thus unable to support themselves in a substantially erectposition and their difficulty in ascending or descending the stairsbecomes clearly bvious.

It is therefore, a further object of the invention to provide a walkinaid which may be adjusted to compensate for the difference in levelbetween the steps, thereby permitting the persons using the same tosupport themselves in a substantially erect position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a walking aid which, inaddition to the adjustevent f ascending or descending stairs, when suchadjustment may be made without the necessity of the user removing hishand from the hand grip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a a walking aid in whicha visible means is provided to indicate to the user that the crutch orthe like, has been properly adjusted and is in readiness for safe use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a walking aidwhich is of simple construction and which cannot easily becomedamaged.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects asmay become apparent as this specification proceeds, the inventionconsists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged detail thereof, the same beingpartially broken away to reveal its construction.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail, illustrating the manner in whichthe leg portion is secured to the crutch,

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing the leg standard per se, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating a modified embodiment of theinvention, as applied to a walking stick.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of a pair of tubular side members I0, the same being relativelyparallel and connected together at the upper ends thereof by means of anarcuate strap Hi. This strap is welded or otherwise secured to the sidemembers and is adapted to support a conventional arm rest I l, thelatter being attached to the strap by suitable bolts H.

Each of the side members In is provided medially of its length with aplurality of vertically aligned ridges l2, and a transversely extendinghand grip I3 connects the two side members as will be clearly apparentfrom the accompanying drawings. The grip I3 is provided at each endthereof with a releasable clamp M, which is secured thereto by means ofthe bolts I5.

A pair of tubular extensions it are telescoped and relatively slidablein the lower ends of the members II], the lower ends of the extensionsbeing inserted into the upper end of the leg per-- tion H.

The latter assumes the form of a pair of convergent tubes I8, connectedtogether adjacent their upper ends by means of the brace IS, the ends ofthe extensions It being secured in the tubes l8 by means of suitable,transversely extending rivets 20.

A tubular sleeve 2| is provided at the con vergent end of the portion I1and a leg standard 22 is slidably positioned in the sleeve M, as will beclearly apparent from the accompanying drawmgs.

The standard 22 is formed with a plurality of vertically alignedapertures 23 and a transversely extending bolt 24 passes through thesleeve 2| and through one of the apertures 23 to secure the standard 22in position.

a plurality of aligned bearing blocks 26 and with a pair of slots 21. Apair of anchor bolts 28 are slidably positioned in the blocks 26, eachof the bolts extending through an aperture 29 formed in the members land projecting into one of a plurality of vertically aligned apertures30 provided in the extensions l6.

Each of the bolts 28 is also provided with a transversely extending'pin3 l ,*-one end-of each of these pins projecting-through theaforementioned slots 21. A compression spring 32 is positioned betweeneach of the pins 3| and the blocks 26, whereby the bolts 28 are urgedoutwardly into the apertures 30.

The inner ends of the bolts 28 are angulated downwardly and terminate inthe bevelled surfaces or extremities 33. latter are slid ably engageablewith the inclined inner surfaces 34 of a triangular pocket 35. Thispocket in'turn, connected to a stem 36 which extends ups "31 'Thehpperend "of one end bfthe' nut 39 'is "thrfeaded "irito "ivar'dly "and "issliuabw jo iirria'lfed "inft'he" provided on the tie rod'j25.Fines-temps isthreafdfe'd into] as a u' a Tampa-"handle h era-ea in "theaccompanyingmgure: 2.

Y A compression spring muspchubnea en the t 'stemj'36jbetwe jtn bassfmand the mesa as, metering urgiii'g the pocket downwardly and therebyassisting the aforementiiined springs"32" "iirging'theboltsf28fiiito theapertures A suitable pin- 4| extendstrahsversely through the stem 36 tolimit the slidi'rigmovmntthereof ""liiidifthge resiliency of the spring"40.

It shdiild befihd'erst'oo'd that while th stem :is freelyslidable,'axialtrotation thereeris not sired and is prevented by forminga portion of 'he sternand the'b'orejip the boss-31 of a square, her thanof a circular cross-sectional con- "Having thus described the=construc-tionaldetails of the invention, its methodof operation wnrn'wnt di The 1 relative 1 position of the-hand grip 4 3 With respect to-the side members 1-0 should first 'beadjjusted t suit the arm=leng thof the individual 'wishing to use-the crutch *This 'adJ'ustment isaccomplished by loosening -the bolts "I ;whereupon the clampsMandtheass'oci'ated grip-I3 may be moved upwardly-or downwardly on themembers a I 0 I to engage i any "suitable pair of the ridges l2. Thegripl3 isretained'in' asuitably adjusted position by 'tig-htehihgthe'b'olts' I5.

The adjustment of the leg standard 2 next be madepthesam beingacconiplishe by removing the bolt "24 and sliding "the "sta'.liiii'l ldupw-arclly 'or' downwardly in the sleeve fl and -,reinsertin -the bolt24 into' one of the'aper i es 23 when a suitable L position" 'of thestates has been found. It should be riot df mection that 'this adustment articularly --'a'da pte'd-fr 'use whe 'several i'nd id iialsemployingthe same' c 'teh. "when only perso'nis "using the sarh th'es'taffdafidw 2" maybe formed integrally with or otherwise suitablyMndwerinanenuy seeu'r'eu to the tiibes ia nce a f lbrigitiidifial"adjusfiirlefiwf" the S'tarfdafd W'i'll hot he necessary. I e

The crutch is new inre'aig i'iness foruse'in ear-- mal walking on levelgrdinfdfeindfwhen"itis"deemaining end of the nut, as isbe's't illus- 2hould Yaw 1.5 5 6. 3

30. "The members l0 may now be adjusted upwardly or downwardly on theextensions l6 and when the next pair of apertures is brought intoalignment with the anchoring bolts 28, the springs 32 will force thebolts into said apertures and thereby lock the members [0 and theextensions I6 in position. The spring 40 will return the pocket 35 andthe associated handle 39 to its =original position, whereupon the"crutch is in readiness'fo'r use.

When ascending or descending stairs, the exf-tensions l6 may be extendedoutwardly so as to increase the over-all length of the crutch. In thismanner, the person using the same is able r to supp'ort himself in anerect position on one step while bearing with the extended crutch onantither s'tephta 'relatively lower level. Alter- ;natively, theextensions I6 may be adjusted to an indrawn position in the members I 0so as to shorten the over-all length of thecrutch andenbldsuhfbe'isdhto'stand on 'one step andbear w th the crutch on anotherstep at a" relativu higher level. 7

'{It will 'be observed that' in this' manner, the l task of ascendin or'descending stairs becomes coriiparatively simple and -the adjustmentOfithe "crutch m'ay'be easily and co'nv'eniently'ma'debe- "foreand'aft'er each time "the stairs are used.

It should be alsonoted'that the position of "the'handle 33 is such thatit maybe conveniently 'Inaiiipulatedwithout the necessity of the. personreleasing his hand from the grip I3. Furthermore. by unscrewingthehandle 39' from-themut 3'8 and substituting 'saidhandle by anotherhawing a comparatively longeror shorter stem, -the 'fhandle 39 may be-brought closer-toorfurther from the hand grip l3, to suit the bestconvenience of the user.

Referring nOw-to-the modified embodiment of {the invention illustrated'in the accompanying Figure 5, the latter substitutes a -walking+stick Tin ;-p lace of the I aforementioned crutch. I

' This stick assumes the form -of a handle 42 positioned in one end of atubular casing on mem- -ber 43, while'a suitableextension leg 44is-slidably positioned in the remaining and oi-said' member.-Theupperend of the l'egextension flr-is formed with a plurality ofvertically aligned r-apertures -similarto the aforementioned apertures-:38, any 50 one of which may be engage'dby a slidable anchor ;-bolt 45.,The'latteris similar to the aiorementioned bolts i Zit -and is-suitablyi'journaled in a bracket -46: provided on the' memb'en-M. "Acomipression sprin'g l'i'is used"to"urge the bolt l5 'iiito *theaperturesdn'the leg- 44. 1

"The outer' end er the 5016 15 15 augalatd and bevelled to engage theinclined inner surface of e latter in turn ilbein'gchhncted "seem nprovided with the finger piece br hajn'dle' t'all. Thef-up'per'enact-mmcenr aa-isrrely the member 43.

"When this embodiment *of the invention is placed in-use} thewalkihgstickfisemployed irr'the already desbii'bedincoiin'ectionwitlfthe aforementioned crutch by pulling upwardly 'bnthe" finger piec'e fi'tto withdraw the bolt-45 from "t eaeertur s-intheleg l l. "*Tnefeupmftneotr- "aybeadjuste'dfaiid when I ropera'dustmem has" een ""adef' the".spring -'-"wi11"agam"urgdtne bolt is intqnals uitable eperture, thus locking thememb'ef n 'an'd"'the-leg44 er uv '75 Refriihg'bnce 'ag'a'into the 'crutch efnbodiment of the invention,it will be observed that the position of the pins 3| in the recess 21 isdirectly related to the extent to which the bolts 28 project into theapertures 30. In this manner, the pins 3| may be used to indicate to theperson using the crutch that proper adjustment has been made and thatsuch crutch is in readiness for safe usage. If desired, the pins may beluminously colored, whereby their position may be readily ascertainedwhen the crutch is being used at night.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an adjustable walking aid including a tubular member and anextension slidably telescoped therein, means for releasably locking saidextension in said member, said means comprising a laterally projectingbracket provided on said member, a spring-pressed anchor bolt slidableon said bracket and engageable with apertures formed in said member andin said extension, said bolt having an angulated portion terminating ina bevelled end surface, a vertical stem slidable in said bracket, and asubstantially triangular pocket provided on said stem, said pockethaving an inclined inner surface in operative en- 6 gagement with thebevelled end surface of said bolt.

2, In an adjustable walking aid including a pair of spaced members and apair of extensions slidably telescoped therein, means for releasablylocking said extensions in said members, said means comprising atransverse tie rod connecting said members together, a pair ofspring-pressed anchor bolts slidable on said tie rod and engageable withapertures formed in said members and in said extensions, said boltshaving angulated portions terminating in bevelled end surfaces, avertical handle slidable in said tie rod, and a substantially triangularpocket provided on said handle, said pocket having inclined innersurfaces in operative engagement with the bevelled end surfaces of saidbolts.

HERBERT E. BLUME.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,339 I-Iargrove Apr. 21, 19081,035,760 Walton Aug. 13, 1912 1,073,991 Jones Sept. 23, 1913 1,505,081Arndt Aug. 19, 1924 1,720,593 Geiser July 9, 1929 2,146,495 Amdur Feb.7, 1939

